Sunday, July 19, 2009

Mad Hatter Tea Party

On Saturday, I hosted my first Mad Hatter Tea Party. The week prior to the party, I was painting all day, everyday, trying to get ready. I was covered head to toe in paint!

This topiary sat next to the front door with a can of paint and used paintbrush left behind by one of the cards while trying to cover up his gardening mistake.

I cut the 4' tall croquet wickets out of 1/4" plywood and painted both sides. They are supported by 1X1" pieces of wood with rebar drilled into the bottoms.

The giant stacked tea cups took MANY hours of painting. I would even bring them to swim practice. They drew quite the crowd!

I also brought a giant chess set for kids or adults who wanted a little quiet time.

The hedgehog balls are madeout of 4" styrofoam balls. I ripped up paper grocery bags and used Mod Podge to apply them. Each ball took about 1/2 an hour...I made 16 of them. Luckily, my friends Sandy and Marina helped me with them.

The mallets were 2' stuffed flamingos.

My client, Tammy, had a perfect backyard for this party. We hung paper lanterns from her pergola as well as giant butterflies.

For the table, I had another stack of giant tea cups as the centerpiece. It was filled with flowers, fiddleheads and butterflies.

The placesettings consisted of plastic pink chargers, black ceramic plates with white polk dots, giant metal flower and ribbon napkin rings with chartruse napkins and black and white Cheshire cat mugs. The place card holders were butterflies in pots and I made the name cards on the computer.

It was such a wonderful party and Tammy said that I would be her party planner for life.

That is the best compliment EVER!

UPDATE!I am overwhelmed by all of the phone calls and emails regarding my party. I have now decided to save you from party dispair and offer the plates, cat mugs and giant tea cups (unpainted).

Leave your email in a comment and I will send you a price list :)

If you haven't left me your email, I have no way of sending you any info.

That is so awesome! It is perfect! I love those giant tea cups the most! So cool! Wow! Have you seen any of the stuff for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland coming out soon? I bet it will be crazy! Love all your ideas especially that giant chess set table wow!

You must be patting yourself on the back----here, let me do it for you! That party was wonderful!! What a creative and artistic end result!! I'll be the kiddos were thrilled beyond belief---and what a gorgeous sunny day to boot!

Those tea cups WERE amazing and so were the plywood characters you made!Thanks for sharing that, Donna---if I lived near you I would also make you my "forever party planner"!!

Also, thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes for our little gr.son. It was a frightening time, but he seems to be doing OK now. We saw him last night--he's wonderful--beautiful---just like his big sister.

Hello Donna; I can see why she said that... Wow what an amazing and wonderful job you did.. It looked like so much fun, wish I was a little girl again.... Where did you find such huge tea cups and saucers? What very talented mind you have...

I love the croquet set,the teacups are brillant, and the tea party under the pergola was adorable! You truly are a super talented & creative planner! I have to feature you on my blog-it is an amazing party. :)

I absolutely love this! It's a party that children and adults alike can truly appreciate and enjoy. I stumbled upon it because of Design Dazzle's blog, and I'm now following your blog as well. I own an event planning business in Austin, Texas, and I'm including your post and links to your site on our blog! We frequently have clients who get married in Austin that are from L.A., and I hope that they all see the talent that you have and utilize your services when they return home! Thank you so much for sharing such a uniquely well-designed party with us. I hope to borrow some of these ideas and host a party of my own soon! (Currently pregnant with twins and on bed rest - so hostessing a party isn't an option right now.) Thank you for the inspiration!

One of my daughters was The Mad Hatter in a production of Alice in Wonderland, Jr. (sure, you can see a picture, look here: http://becomewhatyouare.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/the-assumption-and-this-and-that/ it's in the second half of the entry.)

She was such an excellent Mad Hatter (yes, I am biased, but she really was in spite of that!) and it is her favorite role to date. I am booking marking this post. I'm sure she'd love something like this (even though she'll be 14 next birthday!)

I LOVE YOUR pics! and thank you so much for the ideas! I was searching for ideas for an Alice In Wonderland theme bday party. For my baby (Allyson)'s first birthday -which will be next July... you gave me such great ideas...and now i see that i need to get on the ball painting :) I can only hope that our party turns out as pretty as yours! Thanks again for sharing!

Hi. I saw your party on the creative hostess, how lovely! Just wanted to let you know I am running a contest where you can win $100 gift card to Anthropologie- I think your party would be a great addition- http://thecitycradle.com/throw-an-imperfect-party-win

This is beautiful!I love it!!! I want to find those tea cups sooo bad!! you should buy them and sell them, Id be thrilled to get some, I cant find them ANYWHERE! Love all of your parties, you are amazing!!

You really have a creative mind. I would love for you to send me the price list. my email address is caatt1270@yahoo.com. I am not sure how all this blog stuff works which is why I put my email address.Thank you so much! You are my Idol. Love your stuff!!

Hi, I am interested in getting some of the giant teacups at your party. Do you have some available? If you could let me know a price and some more information that would be great. My e-mail is b.h.p@hotmail.com Thanks a ton, Ben.

im in love my daughter is turning one on may and im planning now to make her party on alice since the movie is coming out soon... how did u find those huge cups or are you selling them ill buy it from you! lol =) let me know

That has got to be one of the the MOST adorable parties ever!!! I am in love!I am interested in purchasing the giant tea cups and the cat mugs. Would you mind letting me know how I can go about this. Thank you so much.Kristinkristinbwithers@gmail.com

I like everyone else lol am loving your ideas!!! I also am in love with the giant tea cups!! I can't stop looking at them lol!! I'm also planning a Mad Hatter Tea--birthday party for my daughter. Please email me with a price list?? Thank you so much!!

I'm throwing my sister a Mad Hatter Tea Party Bridal Shower and just stumbled upon your blog while searching for inspiration. Are you still offering to provide pieces to people for a price? If so, I would appreciate a price list as I am very interested! Thanks and I look

OMG! This is AMAZING!! I'm planning my Sweet 16 and want it to be a Mad Hatter/ Un-Birthday party and this gave me SO many new ideas!! I have posted some pictures of ideas on my future party in my blog... (cheyennetaylor94.blogspot.com). And i was also wondering if you fcould send me a price list of all the big stuff you had to get for the party! Thanks, Cheyenne

Hi my name is Helen my email is velvetlove_261@yahoo.com and for my 40th birthday we are doing the Mad Hatter's/Alice theme and i would love to know where you got the teacups..giant/unpainted and the large chess set and maybe any other ideas that you may have..thanks do very much! It looks amazing!

Oh my gosh! These are all beautiful. I was thinking of doing a Mad Hatter Tea Party/Alice in Wonderland birthday party for my 14th birthday party. Please send me the price list!Email address: chickadodee123@yahoo.com.Thanks!-Bri

WOW, your decorations look absolutely gorgeous!! i am from germany and would love to have a mad hatter party for my birthday in june- do you post your giant teacups there as well? please email me: schnuppi@gmail.com

Hi Donna!I was searching for "Alice in Wonderland" party ideas and came accross your beautiful blog! Can you please, please send me more info and a price list? My email address is:cristina.bogossian@gmail.comThank you!!;)Cristina

I Love your website and really enjoy all the work you have put in it, and the links! Thanks...I am helping a gal create and design props for a very special mother daughter event that is Alice/Mad Hatter themed for little girls who have cancer and their moms. It is at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I saw the giant tea cups and thought they wouls surely WOW the little ones. I am hoping they are light weight. I design and create the props and centerpieces etc. and ship them to the event planner I work with. Problem is I am on the west coast in Southern CA.- she is in Boston. Please send me the info on how to purchase the giant tea cups-not sure how many or if there is a price break for a lot of them?. I am also interested in any info on where I can buy other regular(any sizes) of tea pots, cups, etc...Thanks in advance , Cathy

Hi, I haven't recieved a reply, nor do I see other commentors being replied to. And I can't see any relpies to anyone? Maybe I am missing something on how to use this blog. My email daisiemae2000@hotmail.com if anyone knows where to get the giant tea cups? Thanks Cathy

Hi, I see where I left a wrong email, didn't realize that. Ithought when i signed up it says my follow up comments would go to my hotmail address listed which is corect. How can I ge the info on the cups? Thanks Cathy

Hi! You are fabulous!! Simply amazing!Please send me a price list for the teacups and other decorations. I am planning a 16th birthday party for my daughter on May 15th. So am in a bit of a rush and we live in Miami so mailing is a must.Thanks a lot.All the best for all your parties!Bubul

hi i'm having a sweet sixteen party for my little sister and i'm trying to save a little money by making the center pieces myself i wanted to know where can i order the over sized tea cups and what brand/type of paint did you use to paint them any info. would be a great help thank you (prissyduh@gmail.com)

I know you said you send the information immediately and I have left the correct email address so I think it may have been lost, could you please re-send? Thanks! erin@erintaylorphotography.com OR erin.taylor79@gmail.com

Hi, A few friends & I are throwing a Mad Hatter's Tea Party for my sisiter-in-law's birthday. You're party is absolutely amazing! I can only hope mine looks half this good! :) I would really like to get hold of one of your giant tea cups. Please e-mail me, mary.obrien88@googlemail.com. Thanks!!

THis is such a cute and amazing party. Your decorations are fantastic and I have been able to get some great ideas from you for my daughters second birthday. Thanks! I would love a price list for the decorations. Please e-mail to terrisouthern@hotmail.com

Please give me some more info about where to purchase giant teacups! I love your idea and am so inspired by your work! I'm throwing an Alice and Wonderland party for my younger sister in the fall. My email is paigecsmith1@gmail.com

Hi I just love the decorative ideas you have for the mad hatter tea party I am planning my neices birthday party and would love some price info on the pieces you have thanks. You can email me at rosebud23_2005@yahoo.com

Hi, this is the cutest party I ever seen. I love to play party planner with my daughter b'days, and would love this party them for her 2nd birthday. Can you please send me the price list. my email is suzirodrigues@hotmail.comThank you,

Hi! What you did is amazing and I absolutely love it. I'm interested in the teacups. If you could send me the price of them or where I can purchase them that would be great. my Email: smooren1@gmail.com

What an inspiration!Iam planning mydaugther with special need 10th birthday.I don't have a backyard but I wound like her {AWL}party to be as special as she is and With the things you have for sale,it sure will be!PS: My daugther look like the original Alice. 10 years old Alice Lidell in 1862.Please email me the pricelist at:ecardona3@optimum.net Thank you-n-god bless.

About Me

Hi! My name is Donna and I live in Southern California with my husband and 3 great kids. I own a Children's Party Planning business-Party Wishes! I cannot let a day go by without doing something creative. I always have tons of projects going on such as painting a bench for the backyard, embellishing my daughter's jeans and overalls with vintage textiles or baking brownies with my kids.